An implantable loop recorder is a type of heart-monitoring device that records your heart rhythm continuously for up to three years. It records the electrical signals of your heart and allows remote monitoring by way of a small device inserted just beneath the skin of the chest.

A standard ECG will only record any related heart rhythm abnormalities during the few minutes of the monitoring period — usually about five minutes. Because an implantable loop recorder monitors heart signals for a much longer time, it’s more likely to capture what the heart is doing during your next fainting spell. This information may help your doctor make a definite diagnosis and develop a treatment plan.